Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-03
FREE PEACH BASKETS.

An Effort TO Cut OFF the GroVRere'
Allowance for Peach Bas AeGs-,rO
Protest against Ht.
The following letter from leading and
well-known peach grower, ia published
by reason of its special interest and i'm
portance at this time, and the near sp-
proach of the meeting of the New York
Exchange ON the 9Th instant, and the
Boston Exchange on the 9th instant:
SMYRNA, DEL, Feb. 25, 1Ss7-4E. r. Ooct-
ran, Esq.-DEAR SIR: I presume you are
aware that there is movement In New
York and Boston among the receivers and
buyers Of these cities to sell baskets with
peaches; which means free baskets prac-
Ideally giving them away, as 1t is not
argued by the commission merchants that
peaches will under the circumstances sell
any higher with than they would without
the baskets. The scheme has been agitated
before the exchanges In both cities and the
buyers In both cities are largely In favor Of
1t. It Is also favored by great many Of
the receivers; In fact the New York Ex-
change has passed resolution In favor OF
free baskets, which we propose to try and
have annulled.
The outlook at this time Is for full crop
Of peaches, which means II they are not
hurt, 5000, 900 to 5000, 900 baskets. Take
eaoh-$360, 000-whic amount would be
lost to the growers OF the Peninsula-av very
large amount of money for one year. Any
grower who chips 90, 900 baskets, would lose
$3 600. Besides II all the basket factories
on this Peninsula should start work at the
usual time, they have not the capacity to
supply the demand, and we may look for
higher prices for peach baskets and IL the
demand could not be supplied agreat many
peaches would be lost. You know the laws
OF supply and demand govern the prices OF
everything, and the result will be there will
be no money in this years crop. One Of our
largest growers here told me that In 1876
he shipped $4,000 baskets OF peaches
which cleared him, dedueting freight COM
mission aud carting, 10 cents per basket.
II you estimate as he does, six cents for
each basket, 1t leaves four. cents, which is
absorbed by expenses OF picking and haul
ing, leaving him not one dollar to pay for
tilllng and trimming his orchard. The same
scheme was attempted In Philadelphia four
or five years ago, when meeting was held
and Invitations were numerously sent to the
growers OF the Peninsula. A large delega-
| ton attended. the subject was discussed by
growers and receivers In frank and
| friendly manner, and think the receivers
and growers were convinced that 1t would
be inequitable to the growers to give away
our baskets. The result was, the price oil
DaSkoLH was uNeu AT llVe Genus oAcu hnu nttk
since remained at that hRure-makinp
the business satisfactory to all concerned
We have arranged for meeting of the
New York exchange on March 9Th and In
| Boston March 9th, and we want to make ny
a delegation OF our large growers who are
| representative men to go to New York and
Boston to present our views and discuss
the subject as we did In Philadelphia. Il
| the growers do not attend these meetingi
New York and Boston will adopt this plan
and that will be the end Of It. II 1t should
be worked on that plan one year we will moi
beable to change It. A number OF prominent
| growers have agreed to go on to the meet
| tngs and we are anxious to have the largesi
| possible delegation attend.
If we can't succeed In having the present
system continued, there will be a heavy los
| every year we have crop or half crop
Think carefully over the matter and con
| slider how much each OF US may lose for 6
| series Of years. We ought to have large
delegation to make 1t the more imposing
/ believe we can succeed in having the bust
ness done as heretofore, II we go earnestl,
into the matter; but not without.
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